The Project Grant award R01HL171239, valued at $666,072.00 and funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) under the Cardiovascular Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.837), supports research by Brigham & Women's Hospital Inc. into the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) MERRICAL and its role in macrophage chemotaxis and diabetes-associated atherosclerosis. The project aims to examine how MERRICAL regulates macrophage migration and inflammatory signaling, and how modulating MERRICAL expression affects the progression and regression of atherosclerotic lesions, particularly in the context of diabetes. The research will utilize in vitro and in vivo models to elucidate the mechanisms by which MERRICAL controls lesional macrophage accumulation and its potential as a therapeutic target. Findings from this work are expected to advance the understanding of lncRNA regulation in atherosclerosis and inform the development of novel strategies to mitigate cardiovascular complications in diabetes.